Sr. Geraldine Patricia Da Silva, at the age of 90, was called to God, in the loving and caring community of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Grand Prairie, Texas. From her birth in Kowloon, Hong Kong on February 23, 1929 until her passing on May 2nd 2019, she nourished others around her with love, faith, art, and music. 

The fifth child of ten from Lindamira (Nunes) and Reginaldo da Silva, Gerry was a generous and happy person, very much inclined to helping others. She had a generous nature, was very outgoing, and had a multitude of friends. Gerry was educated by the Maryknoll Sisters in Kowloon, Hong Kong; attending Maryknoll Convent School along with her six sisters.  She went to Northcote College in 1948 and upon graduation, was offered a teaching position at Maryknoll Secondary School where she taught for ten years. She was a favorite at the many Maryknoll reunions, and the students whose lives she touched now span the globe.

In 1959 Gerry left Hong Kong for the US. There she earned a BA degree in Elementary and Secondary Education from the University of Dallas, and her MA in Art Education from North Texas University. She taught fifth grade at St. Luke Parish School in Irving, Texas, with the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Gerry soon felt the hand of God leading her to religious life and she was received into the Congregation as a postulant in 1960. She continued to teach at St Luke until she entered the Novitiate and received the name “Bernardine”. After Vatican II, she requested, and was granted permission to return to her baptismal name Geraldine.  Sr. Geraldine continued to teach Social Studies, Music, and Art to children and formed children's choirs for over 30 years. 

From 1992 to 2006 she served at Bethania Hospital Health Care Center (now United Regional Health Care) in Wichita Falls, Texas. There, she worked in Pastoral Care and as Support Person for the hospital staff. In October 2006, she “retired” to Grand Prairie, Texas where she continued teaching religious education classes once a week at the Korean Catholic Church in Hurst, Texas, and sharing her art and musical talents with her community. Throughout her life, Sr. Gerry exhibited her great love of God, especially her devotion to the Sacred Heart, by spreading this love to all who knew her.

Sr. Geraldine suffered a massive stroke in 2012 and despite her loss of mobility and speech, she continued to bring joy by offering her deeply heartfelt gratitude to the Sisters with whom she lived and her many visitors. One thing unaffected by the stroke was her smile. It remained bright and cheerful as ever.

On the morning of May 2, after the daily Eucharistic Liturgy, the celebrant visited her room to bestow on her the Apostolic Blessing. As he finished blessing her with the Sign of the Cross and those around her uttered “Amen” she breathed her last and went to her heavenly home.

She is survived by her five sisters, Hilda Remedios, Marie Remedios, Freda Remedios, Beatriz (Ben) Assenza and Sylvia (Manuel) Xavier, sister-in-law Ann da Silva, brother-in-law Pedro Larcina, and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her brothers, Leonel da Silva, Berto da Silva, Edward da Silva, and her sister Cecile (da Silva) Larcina.

The entire Da Silva family would like to extend our sincere gratitude to her Sisters at Grand Prairie for their genuine and most loving care of Geraldine. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.  https://nazarethcsfn.org/donate

In Sr. Gerry’s own words, “Love God above all things. Treat all persons with love, dignity, and respect. Live simply with your God.”